Councillor Tricia McKay said the updates are important to keep up as society is emerging and changing. Photo: Town of Ladysmith / Issuu

Ladysmith council passed a motion at its meeting on Tuesday, April 2 endorsing the updates to the Town of Ladysmith Appropriate Behaviour – Code of Conduct – Recreation Facilities Policy.

The council first adopted the policy on June 1, 2015, to support staff in managing challenging behaviours within the town’s recreation facilities. The Recreation & Culture Advisory Committee recently completed a review of it on February 21 of this year.

A staff report to the council said the policy is intended to highlight the importance and shared responsibility of creating safe, inclusive and welcoming programs, services, parks, and facilities. It is also used as a resource in cases where inappropriate behaviour may occur or it is deemed necessary to remove or deny access to those who do not abide by the code of conduct.

The updates include updating the policy that states those attending the town’s facilities are required to comply with the standards of behaviour set out in the town’s Policy “Appropriate Behaviour – Code of Conduct – Recreation Facilities.” Patrons who violate facility rules, guidelines, bylaws, commit illegal acts or otherwise violate policy may be denied access. This includes any patron who engages in abusive, discriminatory, harassing or bullying behaviour towards any staff.

The rationale also stated that town staff must ensure that facilities are safe and have a legal obligation to ensure that other staff can work without the fear of bullying, harassment or discrimination directed at themselves or other attendees at the facilities.

Staff are now designated to secure a photo of an individual who violates the policy or the code of conduct for future reference. The update addresses that the law allows for photos to be taken if the individual or individuals are not forced to have their photo taken. It also addresses that any information including the photos collected will be handled in accordance with the town’s privacy policy once any legal proceedings are concluded.

In the updated procedure, RCMP will be contacted and informed of any information available to the town if anyone attending a town facility is suspected of a current or previous incident of inappropriate behaviour as defined in the Child Protection Policy. Once facts are confirmed, the director or designate will inform the individual that they are not welcome and asked to leave the facility. It also reads that staff must be absolutely certain an individual presents a risk to public safety such as being violent or there is sexual misconduct before speaking or treating the individual in a manner reflecting that conclusion.

At the council meeting, councillor Tricia McKay said the updates are important to keep up as society is emerging and changing.

“Coming from a world of codes of conduct, it's unfortunate that we have to have this but we absolutely do, and I get that,” McKay said. “I think it's important to keep it updated and to move it along with our emerging and changing society because we know that Nothing ever stays the same. So if I appreciate the hard work that's gone into this.”

Councillor Marsh Stevens asked town staff if there had been an uptick in instances of inappropriate behaviour. Chris Barfoot, the town’s director of parks recreation and culture, said this update is more for housekeeping purposes.

“As Councillor MacKay mentioned, there is a change in society and some of the issues that we do experience. What we use this for is a tool for staff to manage these behaviours,” Barfoot said.” It is challenging when you have a large public space, like Frank Jameson Community Center, for example, with a diverse group coming into an inclusive environment. So it's important that we have these tools, guidelines, expectations, to help manage those conflicts that could occur. They are very rare, but when they do occur, it's really important that staff have the support and the tools there to manage them.”

Mayor Aaron Stone clarified that no incident in the past was the reason for the update and that the update is for keeping up with best practices and changes, which Barfoot agreed with.

The motion to endorse the updates to the Town of Ladysmith Appropriate Behaviour – Code of Conduct – Recreation Facilities Policy passed unanimously.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.